Berkshire Conservation District Elects New Supervisors

The district swore in two new members and one returning to the board of supervisors on Tuesday.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Berkshire Conservation District elected two new members to the Board of Supervisors at their annual meeting on Tuesday night.

Patricia Saupe of Richmond and William Pike of Hinsdale joined the seven-member board filling vacancies. The district also re-elected Kevin Zimmer and Ned Kirchner to the board.

The volunteer board heads conservation efforts in Berkshire County and focuses on being a liaison between farmers and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

"Our mission is to help support local conservation efforts," said Administrator Aimee Annichiarico.

The organization formed under a state mandate in 1946 as a not-for-profit aimed to preserve natural resources. Since then, the district has launched an array of programs from workshops on forestry to working with farmers to educational programs in schools.

However, in recent years the state funding has been cut to nothing and the district has scaled back its efforts somewhat.

But it is trying to do more with less and through fundraising efforts has been able to provide scholarships, perform studies, sponsor events and school programs — particularly because of its annual bulb and seedling sale.

"We try to do environmental education events or programs," Annichiario said.

In reflecting last year's accomplishments, the group boasts completing a countywide report on natural resource concerns. The members held a working group meeting, pulling together environmental organizations and the public.

Their findings were that protecting agricultural land, particularly in rare and endangered species hot spots, was a top concern. Other concerns included water quality in the watersheds, invasive species, erosion of agricultural soils, strengthening wetlands protection, protecting rare species, health risks with the planned Housatonic River cleanup and unrestricted use of all-terran vehicles.

Administrator Aimee Annichiarico recapped the organization's successes over the last year.

Working in partnership with the state Natural Resources Conservation Services and the state Association of Conservation Districts, more than $675,000 in financial assistance was provided to landowners for conservation projects, such as erosion control, fencing, wells and soil assessments in Berkshire County.

Also this year, the district provided a new scholarship to the University of Massachusetts for forestry students. This year's recipient of the Adrian Beau Meyer Forestry Award was Great Barrington native Tyler Weinstein. The district awarded its annual Berkshire Community College Environmental Science Award to Kessa Battaini.

The district also ran its first Arbor Day poetry contest to teach children about environmental issues. This year's winners were Hailey Lenski, a fifth-grader from Craneville Elementary School in Dalton, and Andrew Woodget, a senior at Lenox Memorial High School.

The district also held a conservation poster contest as part of the National Association of Conservation Districts contest and received 30 entries. But none won the state competition.

Members also continued to sponsor the Massachusetts Envirothon, which took place in North Easton.

Those initiatives are what the new Board of Supervisors is looking to carry on. For school programs, the district is looking to launch programs themed "where is your watershed."

"We're trying to continue what we have," Annichiario said. "The programs we have this year will continue."

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